Archer's Paradox | Slow updates

Chapter Three

I jump out of bed and head to the bathroom.

Breathe ... you'll be fine ...

I look into the eyes of my reflection with determination and grab a brush. Today is my day. Today I will be Layla Archer, a high school junior. The girl who never backs down. I smile at my speech and brush out my tangles. I lotion my skin quickly and rush to get dressed. My outfit is a bit more complicated. I decided to wear black jeggings with black knee high boots and a maroon turtleneck underneath a puffy grey jacket with fur lining the hood. I put on a bit of mascara after almost poking my eye out and head out the door to eat. Josh is busying himself with breakfast as I sit down at the kitchenette counter. I hear him scraping against a pan and my stomach growls.

"Someone's hungry. I made some omelets with mushroom an-. Woah!" He turns around and eyes me. "You look stunning." He puts the plate in front of me and I carefully start eating to get my blush under control.

I feel absolutely pretty and I know I'll be fine at school. I quickly brush my teeth after I've rinsed my plate and grab my bag. "I'm ready." I say as I strut into the room. Josh laughs at me for a full minute and before I get insecure, he grabs his keys and we head to his car. "I have work today. I put in leave to look after you but since you're fine now, I can go back and finish a few things," He turns into the school. "I'll be back to pick you up though but if I can't, I put the adress in your phone and my number. If you can maybe catch a ride, just let me know. The spare key is in the hidden compartment of a pot." He turns and looks at me before unlocking the doors. "You'll be good. Good luck and let me know if anything happens." I smile and grab my bag before exiting the car and making my way to the main building.

You will be normal and you will make friends. Layla, you matter. You are worth it and Josh takes care of you. You'll fit in.

It's freezing outside and I watch my breath form clouds in front of my face before opening the office door. The heat rushes against me and the nice desk lady looks up as I walk to the counter. "Layla. I'm glad to see you're here. I'll be right back with your schedule and a list of the rooms where all the textbooks are." She smiles at me before heading into a room full of photocopiers. I look around the office as laughter comes from the other end. A crowd of people walks through the door and the boy in front continues laughing as he looks from the back of the crowd to me before completely stilling. It seems like time stands still as they all stop and stare at me and panic rises in my chest. But I know it's just my imagination when they all fill in next to me.

I just imagined them stopping and staring. What am I? In a movie? No. I'm in real life and waiting for the nice desk lady whose name tag says Doris.

I try my best to not acknowledge them but my eye keeps wandering over to the boy in front. He has dark brown, almost black hair and a gorgeous smile. His arms bulge under his jacket and his jeans sit very fitting around his butt. He looks like a male model. His blue eyes catch mine and I almost die of embarrassment. I quickly look away as Doris comes in and hands me the list and my schedule. I thank her and quickly walk through to the hallway. My schedule reads :

English
Biology
French
Lunch
Junior Chemistry
AP Calculus
Free

Behind me I can hear Doris sighing as she asks what they want now. I turn into the hallway and check my schedule for my first period room number and then it hits me. I've never been in a school so I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. I see a girl walking out of the bathroom and my mouth calls out to her before my brain can think. She spins around and her eyes scan the hallway until it lands on me. She smiles and while she's walking towards me, I asses her.

She's a blonde girl with strikingly beautiful features. Her hair is chopped off at her shoulders and she's wearing cute leggings with ankle boots and a puffy red camping jacket. She bounces lightly as she walks and stops right in front of me. "Did you call me?" She asks with a raised brow and I nod. Come on, confidence. Don't fail me now. "I'm new here and I have absolutely no idea what to do." I say before realizing I never introduced myself. "I'm Layla by the way." I quickly add and she laughs lightly at me.

"I'm Tori. Give me your schedule, maybe we have a class together!" I give her the schedule and she looks it over. I admire her bright eyes and perfect features as she studies the paper in front of her. She must be really smart because she can assess a situation perfectly and on point. I jump a little as she squeaks out a sound and hands me the schedule back. "We have the same homeroom, 5th and free period. Second period should start in about 20 minutes so we can get your books and head there. Just follow me." I follow her into another hallway and into the second door on the left.

"Science textbooks." Tori explains as she gathers a few books. "You have Biology with Mr Tenner and Junior Chemistry with Ms Atkins." I nod and follow her into the door opposite the science storeroom.

"Here's the language and math storeroom. You have English with Mrs Smith, AP Calculus with Mr Johnson and French with Mrs Le Roux. She's from France actually so she knows her stuff." She lets out a small chuckle and we head out the door. She helps me find my locker and I stuff all the books in I have after lunch. The bell goes for second period and we hurry to find my class. English with Mrs Smith, room 17. Tori says goodbye as we part ways since she has French with Le Roux in room 30 and I make my way inside. Great, joined seats. I stay put as all the kids file into class and take their rightful places and Mrs Smith walks in. "Are you new?" She asks before picking up a file and a pen. "Yes. I'm Layla Archer." I feel slightly flustered as she writes down my name. "Well we have 5 open seats. I have assigned you to seat 16 next to Alice Huntington. Just follow the numbering system." She nods towards the desks and I walk through a row which starts with 10 and find my desk at the way back. I plop down and open my books at the page written on the chalk board before a hand creeps onto my book and I stare at the round nails.

I follow the arm up to a blonde girl with a really pretty face and cute nose. Her eyes look at me intently and I blush. "I'm Alice and I was hoping to maybe share with you. If that's alright." Her voice is confident and her eyes twinkle as if she always gets what she wants. I swallow my spit that's gathered and look at her. "I'm Layla and uhm sure." I slide the textbook over the centre and we share as Mrs Smith continues talking about apostrophes and all that. Alice looks at the teacher before turning to me again. "I can see you're new to school systems. Homeschooling maybe?" I nod and she continues, "But anyway, I like your face. Sit with us at lunch and we'll make sure no one bothers you or take advantage of you. What do you say?" She raises her brow and I look at her. I guess it wouldn't hurt to make friends. "Sure." I answer and turn back to my book.